A novel and simple strategy for the efficient synthesis of the corresponding tetrahydroquinolines from N,N-dimethylanilines and maleimides using visible light in an air atmosphere in the presence of Eosin Y as a photocatalyst has been developed. The metal-free protocol involves aerobic oxidative cyclization via sp3 C–H bond functionalization process to afford good yields in a one-pot procedure under mild conditions.
Defying strain in the synthesis of an electroactive bilayer helicene